Noted as one of the United States best period instrument ensembles The Bach Sinfonia teams up with GRAMMY® Nominated lutenist Ronn McFarlane to perform the music of Vivaldi, under the direction Daniel Abraham. This exciting new release from Sono Luminus delivers one of the year's most exciting concerto albums. The Bach Sinfonia is dedicated to excellence in performance, public education and disseminating a greater understanding of the variety of styles, composers, and masterpieces of the baroque, pre-classical, and classical periods. The ensemble presents concerts, lectures, and other cultural events designed to be not only entertainment but also an educational experience. Their performances and recordings have received outstanding reviews and international recognition.

GramophoneVivaldi's output is so vast that listeners have opportunities to hear only a fraction of the composer's creative gifts. So this new disc by the Bach Sinfonia, which is based near Washington DC, provides pleasurable engagement with music beyond famed climatic concertos and other works that have raised the composer to such a high status. The recording's title, The Art of Vivaldi's Lute, may be a bit misleading, since that delicate instrument comes to the fore only in a portion of the programme. But the lute is present throughout the music-making, both in solo and secondary roles, and it can have no better champion than Ronn McFarlane, whose playing is the epitome of grace and rhythmic animation.

MusicWeb InternationalRonn McFarlane gives very fine performances of the solo parts. The violin and viola d'amore parts are also nicely played. Jennifer Ellis Kampani's skills are considerable as she convicingly deals with the many coloraturas... She has a pleasant voice which is perfectly suited to this repertoire... a programme which is varied and entertaining, and gives a good impression of Vivaldi's writing for the lute. The performances generally focus on the more intimate and graceful side of Vivaldi's oeuvre. There are no exaggerations as one meets them now and then in Italian performances of this repertoire.

American Record GuideThe level of virtuosity for the soprano soloist reflects contemporary taste for dazzling vocal passages. The motet is highly technical, and Jennifer Ellis Kampani handles its demands well...

Infodad.comMuch quieter and more reserved string playing is the order of the day in The Art of Vivaldi's Lute, which is neatly constructed in an "arch" shape: the CD opens and closes with a sinfonia; the second and second-to-last works are concertos; the third and third-to-last are trios; and the central work is the aria In Turbato mare irato, RV627. Lutenist Ronn McFarlane brings out the gentleness as well as the virtuosity of his instrument throughout this disc, showing that Vivaldi, although a famed (and somewhat controversial) violinist, had an excellent sense of the lute's capabilities as well. The Concerto in D minor for Lute and Viola d'amore is particularly captivating here, with the tones of the two solo instruments intermingling beautifully and their different methods of sound production complementing each other very effectively. Vivaldi certainly had an ear for the sound of stringed instruments - and so do McFarlane and the players of the Bach Sinfonia under Daniel Abraham.

Reviews

Delightful Vivaldi w/ Marvelous Lute

Ronn McFarlane is something of a new discovery for me – and I must admit to being somewhat chagrined to have not been familiar with him prior to this recording as his playing is exceptional. His tone is pure, he possesses nimble fingers, and has the interpretive skills to match his technical skills. And the Bach Sinfonia, under the baton of Daniel Abraham, also does a tremendous job. This recording is filled with wonderful pieces, lovingly and energetically played, full of feelings and moods and all of the positives that the best performed Baroque music can bring. This is good stuff!

Particularly noteworthy are the Concerto in D Major (if you don’t know it by name, you’ll definitely know it when you hear it – and you’ve probably not heard it as well performed as it is here), the Trio in G minor with its deep resonant harmonies (the Andante Molto is soooo good), the “In Turbato mare irato” featuring soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani who was obviously having a lot of fun with this piece, the Concerto in D minor for lute and Viola d’amore (the Viola d’amore is *sweet*), and the Sinfonia in G minor is just a feast for the Baroque music lover. You just can’t help but respond to the energy present in this recording.

Mr. McFarlane’s lute and Vivaldi’s music are a combination not to be missed. Get this disc!